Stroke of Genius

Rising on their hunger, his mouth spits altar fire,

Unholy sermons from the pulpit—blood and fear,

Cities bow as his breaths expire.

*

Mothers whisper blessings, dream, conspire,

As planes fly south with human cargo drear,

Rising on their hunger, his mouth spits altar fire.

*

In golden foyers, gargoyles stern and dire,

Their toasts to victories seen only by a seer,

Cities bow as his breaths expire.

*

He dances, trembling knees to liars’ lyre,

All laughter now; hollow, unkind, insincere,

Rising on their hunger, his mouth spits altar fire.

*

One day mid-speech he clutches heart’s hot wire,

A hand raised high, God's faithless crowd draws near,

Cities bow as his breaths expire.

*

“The stroke of genius,” taunts memetic choir—

Lump of flesh returns to clay, unclear,

Rising on their hunger, his mouth spits altar fire,

Cities bow as his breaths expire.